Music printing or typewriting machine



Sept. 30, 1952 J. M, PARKER 2,512,251

MUSIEC PRINTING OR TYPEWRITING MACHINE- Filed March a, 1949 I a 2 SHEETSSHEET i Sept. 30, 1952 J. M. PARKER v MUSIC PRINTING QR TYPEWRITING MACHINE 2" SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 8, 1949 .jr/ vk-wraz. J 9 41595445 1 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 Music PRINTING omtimwmme MACHINE'.

llames Murray 'ParkenGlenhuntly, Victoria,

' Australia Application March 3, iaJNQ. 56,138 In Australia March I e l My Saidpatent describes a machine comprising "a frame-workfor supporting various parts, in- "cluding 'akey-board a bankjof fingers carrying striking heads, linkage betweenthe keyboard and the'banl; of fingers, an inked ribbon, a vertically arranged platen for supporting the paper to be printed on, and mechanism for traversing the platen horizontally and for raising and lowermg the platen while printing or "typing opera- "tions" are in progress. The mechanism for vertical adjustment of the "platen includes a shift lever movable between a pair of inclined or curved bars carrying horizontal transverse strips so arranged'as to leave a continuous vertical path between their inner ends Ior'movement of'the shift-' leverj-and slots between the strips.

'. lone of'tee' primary differences between the original machine and the present machine is that the platen is substantially horizontal and remains stationary during printing'or'typing opvable 'erations, and'the typing mechanism ism or. traversable over the platen; Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a'preferred practical embodiment of the invention. In the drawings: v Figure -l is a perspective "view of the embodiflmentf v I t Figure 2 is a perspective under view, in the direction indicated by the arrow'II'in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a part sectional elevational'view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1;]

' "Figured is a sectional elevational view-similar to a portion of Figure 3'. but showing a certain operative phase of a platen portion'of the em- "bodiment.

Referring now' to Figure l the improved machine may comprise "a horizontal frame I which may be-suitably supported 'upon legs 2 or the like and upon which aplate'n' 3 for m'ouiitin'gor sup porting the paper to be printeduponfis adapted Etosrbe :horizontallyi supported. The paper'may 8Claim's. (01. 15M;

tend for the full" width of the platen.

"be aliixed tothe supporting platen in any suitablemanner, but it is preferred that the platen be capable of relatively slight upward and down- Ward movement withrespect to the frame in such .a way that when' the platen is in the upper position, the paper thereupon is securely held between the platen 3 and transverse retaining strips flor bands provided and associated withthe frame; Inthisconnection I propose that flap .strips the hinged alq g jthe upper side edges of the platen}, and bespring. influenced in such a mannerthat when. the platen is lowered the flap strips? 6 rise to enable paper to be inserted or removed, and that when th'eplaten is raised the paper may be' firmly' retained .and secured by the flap'stripsf (see Fi .3. and 4). v A spring strip orband 1 adapted to clipf on flanges 8 provided on transverse members of the frame I, may be jprovided to retainpaper which may not ex A key-board '9 andnbankp of fingers ll with associated type heads and linkage mechanism are provided andmgunted upon a carriage C so arranged as to, bej icapablegofmovement or traverse both longitudinally and transversely in a substantially horizontal. plane across, saidsup.- porting platen. The carriage C, keyboardand linkage mechanismmaybe of anywell known commercial typewriter construction; the carriage illustrated being an Elliott Fisher apparatus.

For this purpose 2 the aforesaid carriage 2C is suitably s ppprtedupbn' rollers l2 or the like ,by a carriage-way' I3 extending transversely above the platen. This carriage-.way istmounted .upon rollers I4 and I47. cor'operating with runners. l6 provided on the carrying framework in such manner as, to permit the carriage-way l3 .to be moved longitudinally over the-said'lcarriage framework. l 1 I v j The carriage-way isalso provided with a trans verse1y extending axle l1 upon, which are mounted one or more pinions. [8 in engagement with a co-operating rack or racks l9 mounted upon the carrying framework inorder that controlled longitudinal movement ofthe carriage-way may be effectedin' a manner. later 'to be described. The rollers l4 may be mountedjupon the transversely extending axle l1.

, he fingers actu ted by the key-board 9 in corporatedwith the carriage mechanism are each provided with music or other appropriate symbol fheads for imprintingcorrespondingsymbols upon paper carriedby the platen in underneath re.- lationsh i'p with" said. carr iage. I, The carriage mechanism also includes such operating means as a back space, space bar, shift key, carriage quick release, for rapid traversing of the carriage, ribbon adjustment, line finder and the like as well known in connection with type-writing and like machines, and similarly a suitable'pawl and ratchet device or escapement mechanism is incorporated with, the carriage mechanism and adapted taco-operate with a rack 2| .or the .like upon the supporting carriage-way l3 in such a manner that movement of the carriage across the platen in predetermined spaced steps may be effected manually by the use of the space barorautomatically in timed relationship with the symbol heads actuated by the relative keys ina wellknown manner.

carried upon the carriage-way I3.

mallyllocated in the verticalipath ibetween the inclined bars 23. The arrangement is such that :a breakable coupling is provided between the block member 29 and the transversely extending axle l'lprovidedwith pinions l8 engaging with The type or symbol heads inscribe the paper through an inked ribbon in the .general location indicated by the arrow T, which is convenient for ready inspection of inscribed matter by the operator of the machine.

Normally thecarriage will automatically move vone space to the. right after each. note. symbol or thellikelhas been writtenonlthe paper. .It is desirable .that manually operable means beprovided to temporarily prevent this automatic movement,.so as to facilitate the'building up of musicalchords, arpeggiosigns andiother musical markings or lines whichrequirelongitudinal (or vertical with respect to amanuscript) alignment or continuity. .Accordingly,'a crank lever 22, with finger piece 22a and predetermined limits of movement, isprovided and the spindle. 22b there- Ifof= is connected'in anysuitable and simple inannezito renderthe escapement mechanism opera- ;tive, ornon-operative, as desired. a

, vfAipair of inclined bars'23, which may if desired be of-ouadrant configuration, are supported preferably .at one end of and attached 'tothe aforementione'dQcarriage-Way .l 3. These inclined bars are provided with horizontal strips 24 along their lengthso arranged as'to'leave a continuous vertifcalipathbetween their inner ends, and slots 24a between the strips. The'strips'atone side are sta gered in relation to the strips at the other *side. 'fAshift lever 26 is adapted to be swung through the verticalpath between the strips upon the inclined bars, the shift'lever also being capableofJslightmovement to the right and to the leftfs'o as to be engaged within a slot formedbetween' an'adia'centJpairof the horizontal transverse strips.

7 ,In order to relieve the staggered transverse strips 24;which may be relativelyfra'gile, "from being repeatedly engaged by the .shift lever 28,

ftwo series ofpins or studs 21 may project in staggere'd relationship immediately behind the respective st'rip's'tofiform abutments against which thejshiftlever can bear when moved into its adjusted positions.

The shift lever 26 may comprise a rod pivoted atits inner .end as will be hereinafter described andpro'vided at its outer endwith a 'T-shaped handleZGa or the like in such manner that the shift lever may be turned or twisted as well as being swung in a vertical manner between the inclined bars. .Adjacent itsinner end, the shift lever (rodmaybe provided with a flexible union to permit of the slight sideward movement to enable the shift lever to be engaged at one or the other side ofi'the vertical path between them- .clined'bars 'with'the transverse strips. 1 'Acc'ordingly at itsinner end, theshift-lever is 'carried'by a' yoke member 28, which is supported upon ablock member '29 pivoted about one end fOf the transversely extending. axle or spindle l1 co-operating racks l9 extending longitudinally uponthe carrying framework. .15

The breakable coupling may comprise a flange 34, afiixed upon the transversely extend- "ing axle l1,"provided with holes 36 concentrically "formed'around the outer face thereof in predeflange, 'bytvvisting of, the shiftlever, and engagement of the trigger 38 with a projection 31a upon the pin 31, no rotative' movement will be imparted to'the flange or transversely extending axle if the shift lever Ibe lthenmovedupwardly or downwardly betweentheinclined bars. The pin is normally influenced to engagement with a'hole in theflange'by'means of a spring 39 or the like, and the trigger38 is normally maintained out of engagement with projection '3lalby means of ahelical spring 26a operativelyconnected withtheshiftlever 26.

Alternate means for appropriate withdrawal from engagement of the pin with the flange may be used; such for example as a flexible cable which may beof theBowden type, suitably oper- -ablefroma control on the :shift lever.

It is desirable that the end of the pin relative to the .fiange be of tapered configuration to ensure smooth engagement with the latter.

It will thus be apparent that when the pin 13'! is engaged with the flange 34 upon the laterally extending axle t1, and the shift lever 25 .is moved upwardly or downwardly between the inclined-bars or quadrant,the rotation/of the laterally-extending axle and its pinions l8 in engagement with the racks l9 upon'the carrying framework will cause the carriage-way l3 and carriage C thereon to be moved longitudinally across the paper supporting platen 3.

If the pin is withdrawn and 'theishift lever moved through the quadrant or inclined bars, no movement of the carriage will take place but this will occur if the pin is again permitted to engage with-the flange by twisting or releaseof the shift lever control.

'It is desirable that the holes 36 or co-oper- .atingnotches uponthe flange hereinbefore mentioned be provided in predetermined-spaced relato' another part of the quadrant scalefiasindieated by the horizontal transverse stripsthereon, without effecting any movement of the carriage and carriage-way longitudinally acrossthe platen or supporting framework.

A'handle 4| upon'asuitable portion of thecarriage-way' I3 is providedfor expeditious manual steadying, or movement,'of the carriage-way longitudinally across the-platen.

It willthus be apparent that a means such-as outlined affords a ready way of changing from stave -'to stave, for example, when operating the machine in the printing or typewriting of music; and the form of mounting of the carriage mechanism with relation to the paper carrying-platen affords a ready .way' of. traversing the former over the "latter in operative manipulation of the machinepx The. horizontal transverse strips-24. maybe arranged in *spaced. relationship or positioning along the inclined bars or .quadrantrinmuch the same manner as has been'described in mysaid patent and may be provided with identification marks or configurationsiidentifying the appropriate strips with the stave line positioning of written music as; described in mysaid previous patent. L Y

Itis desirablethat spring tensionor like means, suchias'springband spool 42, be provided to influence the carriage along) the carriage-way in" a predetermined direction working in association with the carriage ratchet andescapement mech- ;anism. It maybe desirable; that spring-tension .or like means be provided toinfluence or,con-' trol the longitudinal-movement of the carriage and carriage-way across the platen. In this connectionI prefer gravity weights, one of which is shown at 43 connected by cord 43a to an appropriate portion of the carriage-wayl3.

If so desired, the runners 16 may be on a downward incline towards the front of the maohine, ratherthan horizontal, thereby enabling the carriage-way, and supported components to be normally influenced forwardly under the influence of gravity. i p i I The-means for effecting; raising or-lowering of the'platen 3 will now be described, with particular reference to Figures 2, 3 and Accordingly, the platen 3-is neatly accommodated between the side pieces la and lb of the frame I, anyupward movement of the platen being limited by the overhanging; portion of runners I6, against which. the flap strips 6 may engage. i

-A- pair of shafts 48 are supported horizontally 5 by, and longitudinally of, theframe I, A plurality.of pairs'of arms 41 and are: affixed; to the-shafts 4,6, the innerends .of the arms .441 and 48 being respectively connected by tongue and slot telescopic connections;

Rollers 49 are rotatably mounted on the upper faces of the arms 41 and 48, and'the platen 3 is adapted to be supported-upon these rollers 49.

An arm 5l1radiallyoutstanding from one of the shafts'lfiiis connected by link 52 with a minor arm 'member 53 outstanding from-a cross :shaft 54;.atione end'o'f which is a handle member: l The shafts are influenced by springs "51 to .normally maintain the .arms 41 and 48, and. the platen 3 supported". thereby, in an upward or raised position. 1 'i If. the handle member 56 is actuated the c'ross shaft 54 will be rotated, causingfin efiect,. the .arms 41 and" to be moved radially by the shafts swans the platen to be lowered against menu;

fluence of springs 51 (see Figure 4).

A rod 58 (see Figure 2), the outer'end of which is provided with a knurled or likefinger-pieceifl, and the inner end of which is screw :threa'ded, is rotatably supported by a portion'of the frame I, the screw threaded portion beingadapted .to

- co-operate with a screw block 6 I-ymountedLonth've underside of the platen-3. By this means',gl ongitudinal movement or adjustment of'the ,platemt, 1 supported by rollers 49, upon the machine framek may be conveniently and expeditiously-er;

fected. l Y

With due regard'for the different character'- istics of themachine and the arrangement-got component parts thereof, the-operation of the machine is substantially-on the lines asdescribed in my said previous patent. However, it is considered that the movement of-the carriagelaterally and longitudinally,- over the paper uponaa horizontal platen,. provides many'advantages in operation and practice, amongst which are ;the

ease of operation and the ready-visibilitm-of he work being executed. I

It will be appreciated that simply by twisting the shift lever, or by othermeans releasingthe pin from thedriving flange, the carriage and carriage-way may be moved longitudinally over and away from the work being executedto permit of thorough inspection of the same. I

For the purpose of readily inscriblng; desired lines or marks, such as for example stave lines.

upon the paper or, the like carried upon ,the

platen, I propose the use of an appropriate num ber of pens which may be supp'orted-in asubstantially vertical position, in desired relationship,

one to another, from, orby the carriage mechanism. I have found that a pen of theball-point type possesses excellent characteristics for such a purpose, the ink therefromfdrying; practically instantaneously, thereby obviating; smudgin'g, whilst the thickness of line produced may be readily controlled by variation vof.-thepressure of the pen upon the paper. v I

For convenienca the previous proposal -isZ -not1 illustrated in the drawings, whereinis shown .a printing roller 63 having a set of five appropriately spaced circumferential peaks which are adapted to bear, against an inkingpad {not shown) and which may becausedtobearupon paper, or reproducing stenciL-upon the platen by depressing finger-piece 64.

Such a device as hereinbefore described is of particular advantage when a- .master wax stencil,is being cut-for subsequent reproduction It will also be appreciated that by the useof a single pen-instrument appropriately supported and traversable in relation to the paper a-single line or lines may be readily inscribed as desired;

Curves or how lines may be readily inscribed by simultaneous lateral and .longitudinalmovement of the carriagewhich carries the pen,over

the paper. In the drawings,a-singleroller wheel 66 isshown supportedfor inscribing single'lines; it may be brought :into engagement :with'the paper or stencil upon the plateni-by-sdepressing Whilst the foregoing descriptionrelates to an embodiment of the machine which. at.:pr.esent is preferred, it'is to be understoodithatzitissusceptible to various modifications, refinements and/or additions without departurefromthe true spirit and scope of the inventiomuaswdefined;by .the' appended claims.

Having now. described my invention, what I J7 :claimsas-znewwand -:desire to secure .=by :Iaetters Patent is: I i i 111i :Animproved music writingmachinenom- ,p singxa stationary: platen :for supporting paper ttoirbe'. zwritten. upon, type-writing mechanism, manually operable means for effecting'movement nf said mechanism over thepapersupportingsuriace ofthe'platen, such 'manually operahleimeans comprising a scale or (indicator device having ,upstanding laterally spaced bars providinga continuous'pathway between them, the adjacent or inner-"faces of the-bars having staggered horizontal slots spaced apart in conformity with the linesand the interveningspaces of a musical stave, 'a lever adapted tobe moved with a'swing- 'in'g' motion lengthwise through said pathway and having cap'acity for limited sidewise-movement into'any oi said slotsgand operative connections for' translatingsaid swinging motion of the lever -into" movement of said mechanismlongitudinally over-the said platen. I

"{2.;"A music writing machine, comprising Ia platen stationarily mounted in a substantially horizontal plane for supportingpaper'tobe written upon, 'typewritin'g mechanism, supporting means fo'r said mechanism'for enabling it to be 'niovd' both longitudinally and transversely in relation to the stationary platen, and'manually operable means for adjusting said mechanism into predetermined positions longitudinally over 'tli'e platen, saidmanually operable means includin'g'a scale or indicator device-having upstanding laterally spaced bars providing a continuous path-way between them-,the adjacent or inner "faces ofthe 'bars'having staggered horizontal slots'spaced apart in conformity with the lines and'the'intervening spaces of-a musical stave, a lever adapted to be moved with a swinging motion lengthwise through said pathway and having capacity for limited sidewise movement into any of *said'slo ts, and operative connections for translatingi's'aid-swinging motion of the lever into substantially longitudinal and horizontal movement of said mechanism over the said'platen.

"'3. A "music writing machine, comprising a platen stationarily mounted in a substantially "horizontal plane for supporting paper to'be written upon, 'typewriting mechanism, supporting means"forsaidmechanism for enabling it tobe 'moved longitudinally and transversely in relation .to the stationary platen, and manually operable means for adjusting said mechanism into predetermined positions longitudinally over the platen, the supporting means for said mechanism comprising a framework having along its opposite "sides longitudinallyextending, substantially horizontal runners, a carriage-way member, rollers on'said member fortracking along said runners, an-axlefextending transversely of said carriageway member',- said axle being provided with toothed pinions, toothed racks on said framework engaged by the pinions, manually operable means, including 'a-swingable lever for imparting rotation "to said-axle to thereloy'move the :carriage-way member lengthwise with respect to the framework'and the platen supported thereby,

a disengageable coupling between said swingable ilever andsaid'axle whereby swinging motion of the-lever may :be effected if desired without impartingrotative movement to the'said axle, said "disengageable-coupling comprising a flange af- -fixed uponthe said axle, the flange being pro- "vided' with holes concentrically formed: around the outer face thereof in predetermined positions, and-a cooperative pin associated with the lever,

its which plnisnormallyinfiuencedinto engagement with :one" of the. holes in :=the said flange: and is adapted to berwithdrawn :from-said holeifor ,the .purpose :of disengaging the coupling when d'esired.

:4. A- music :writingimachlne, comprising a platen'ristationarily mounted in a isubstantially horizontalplane for supporting paper to be-written upon, typewriting mechanism,.:supporting means forsaid .mechanismfor enabling it'tov be movedilongitudinallyland transversely in:relation to the. stationary. platengand manually operable means :forradjusting said mechanism into vpro-- determined positions longitudinally over the v.plat'emzth supporting means for saidmechanism .comprising a framework having alongits opposite isides longitudinallyextending, substantially horizontal runners, a carriage-way membenirollers son said member:for tracking alongsaidirunn'ers, :an axle extending transversely of '1 said carriageway "member, said :axle' being "provided with toothed pinions, toothediracks: on'said iramework engaged by the pinions, manually operable means, including aswingable lever for imparting rotation t0:said axl'efto therebycmove'the carriage-way member lengthwiseawith respect to the framework and the platen supported thereby, a disengageable coupling between said swingable lever and said axle whereby swinging' motion of the levermay be 'efiectedi'f deslred'Without imparting rotative: movement to the "said axle, said disen'gageable coupling comprising aflange affixed upon the said axle, thefiange 'beingprovi'ded with holes concentrically "formed around the outer face thereof in predetermined positions,

and a cooperative pin associated-with the lever,-

which pin is normally influenced into engagement with one of theholesin'the said flange and is adapted to be withdrawn from said ho'le'for the purpose of disengaging the coupling when desired, said cooperative pin having a projection thereon and said lever having a'projecting member thereon in such relation to the projection means 'for said mechanismfor enabling it tobe moved longitudinally'and transversely inrelation to the stationary platen, and manually operable means for adjusting said mechanism intopredetermined positions longitudinally over the platen, the supporting means for said mechanism comprising a framework havingalong' its opposite sides longitudinally extending, substantially horizontal runners, "a carriage-Way member, rollers on said member fortracking along said runners, an axle extending transversely of 'said carriagewaywmember, said axle being provided with toothed pinions,toothed racks on said framework engaged by the plnions, manually operable means, includinga swingable lever' for. imparting rotation to said axle to thereby move 'the carriage-way member lengthwise with respect "to the framework and the platen supported thereby, a disengageable coupling-between said swingable lever vand said axlewhereby swinging motionrof the lever:may be effectedif desired .withoutaimsparting rotative movement to the said 'axle,-.said

disengageable coupling comprising 'a flange 'af- .fixed upon the-:s'aid axle, the flange being :pro'- vided with holes concentrically formed around 9 the outer face thereof in predetermined positions, and a cooperative pin associated with the lever, which pin is normally influenced intoengagement with one of the holes in the said flange and is adapted to be withdrawn from said hole for the purpose of disengaging the coupling when desired, said cooperative pin having a projection thereon and said lever having a projecting member thereon in such relation to the projection upon the pin that axial twisting of the lever will cause the pin to be withdrawn from the hole-in the flange with which it is normally engaged, said holes on the flange being provided in predetermined spaced groups, each group comprising three relatively closely spaced holes.

6. A music writing machine, comprising a platen stationarily mounted in a substantially horizontal plane for supporting paper to be written upon, typewriting mechanism, supporting means for said mechanism for enabling it to be moved longitudinally and transversely in relation to the stationary platen, and manually operable meansfor adjusting said mechanism into predetermined "positions longitudinally over the platen, the supporting means for said mechanism comprising a framework having along its opposite sides longitudinally extending, substantially horizontal runners, a carriage-way member, rollers on said member for tracking along said runners, an axle extending transversely of said carriageway member, said axle being provided with toothed pinions, toothed racks on said framework engaged by the pinions, manually operable means, including a swingable lever for imparting rotation to said axle to thereby move the carriage-way member lengthwise with respect to the framework and the platen supported thereby, a supporting frame for the platen, the platen being capable of relatively slight upward and downward movement relative to the said supporting frame, a strip connected by a hinge to an upper edge of the platen and resilient means whereby when the platen is lowered the strip opens about the hinge to allow paper to be inserted or removed, and when the platen is raised the strip closes in order to retain the paper upon the platen.

7. A music writing machine, comprising a platen stationarily mounted in a substantially sides longitudinally extending, substantiallyhorizontal runners, a carriage-way member, rollers on said member for tracking along said runners, an axle extending transversely of said carriageway member, said axle being provided with toothed pinions, toothed racks on said framework engaged by the pinions, manually operable means, including a swingable lever for imparting rotation to said axle to thereby move the car- 3 riage-way member lengthwise with respect to the framework and the platen supported thereby,

a supporting frame for the platen, and means for raising and lowering of the platen, said means comprising a pair of" shafts supported horizontally and longitudinally of the supporting frame, a plurality of pairs of arms affixed to the shafts at their outer ends, the inner ends of related arms being connected together in slotted telescopic connection, rollers carried by said platen stationarily mounted in a substantially horizontal plane for supporting paper to be written, upon, typewriting mechanism, supporting means for said mechanism for enabling it to be moved longitudinally and transversely in relation to the stationary platen, andmanually operable means for adjusting said mechanism into predetermined positions 1 longitudinally over the platen, the supporting means for said mechanism comprising a framework having along its opposite sides longitudinally extending, substantially horizontal runners, a carriage-way member, rollers on said member for tracking along said runners,

an axle extending transversely of said carriagewayv member, said axle being provided with toothed pinions, toothed racks on said framework engaged by :the pinions, manually operable means, including a swingable lever for imparting rotation to said axle to thereby move the carriage-way member lengthwise with respect to the framework and the platensupported thereby,

and means provided for longitudinal movement or adjustment of the platen relative to the supporting framework and carriage-way member and comprising a rod supported by a portion of the framework, a knurled finger piece at the outer end of the rod, the inner end of the rod having a screw thread, and a screw-block mounted on the under-side of the platen for cooperation with said screw thread.

JAMES MURRAY PARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are "of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 759,817 Marriott May 10, 1904 754,454 .Jarman Mar. 15, 1904 1,001,359 Crowell Aug. 22, 1911 1,904,127 Foothorap Apr. 18,193 2,047,690 Keaton July 14, 1936 Wise Nov. 1, 1949 

